A Reflection on Gaza and Lebanon
A Jewish peace activist discusses her local peace movement.
A person with a Jewish background reconciles her involvement in the peace movement during the summer of 2006 and the war between Israel and Lebanon.
I have been taking part in anti-war demonstrations for over a year now, but none have elicited such reactions from others as the ones having to do with the Middle East. As a person of Jewish background, I’ve been told I don’t belong at rallies where there is a strong anti-Israel feeling. I’ve been told I am putting myself at risk attending large gatherings of this nature. I’ve even been told that I was too concerned about people (in Gaza and Lebanon) who hated me and wanted to destroy my culture and religion.
When I feel strongly about something, I find it is more productive to be active and take a stand, even if I don’t necessarily agree with everything being communicated by a group or organization. I can then bring my own views and opinions, and learn from those of others. And I can agree to disagree. Respecting the viewpoints of others is part of being an adult. Being able to work together towards a common goal does not mean that everyone has to be mind clones of each other.
That being said, most of the events I have attended have been presented from the perspective of justice and freedom for the people in Gaza and Lebanon, while viewing Israel as the aggressor. I don’t fully agree with this perspective. While I am concerned about the human rights issues affecting the Palestinian territories, I don’t like to lay blame completely on one side over the other. When one side of a conflict is portrayed as being completely wrong, it implies that the other side is completely right and therefore whatever that side does to promote its cause is just fine – even if it means using violence to achieve those ends. And it is violence used in any situation that I protest.
Attributing blame also runs the risk of dissolving a debate into a schoolyard mentality of “he/she started it!” or a grocery list of the wrongdoings of each party involved. This isn’t about who started it. The issues go far beyond Israeli soldiers being kidnapped by Hezbollah. It’s far more complicated, and complicated situations are not solved by throwing out simplistic truisms or shallow explanations. Wanting peace does not mean having to pick one side or the other, nor should it have to.
I don’t believe that peace can necessarily be achieved through political means. Change has to come with individuals through our attitudes, lifestyles, and hearts. When we care about each other and the value of human life, regardless of race, religion, and politics, more than we are willing to die for a cause -- or protect a country, or our own material possessions – then there is hope for peace.
